Constitutional Rights for Terrorism Suspects

Stephanie Alford
In my opinion, I hold favor with those against indefinite detention without rights. While I understand that terrorism is a huge threat to the United States, our government must also understand that our forefathers developed the Constitution for a reason. Especially with the recent Patriot Act, our Constitution is rapidly diminishing. At the rate we are going, we will have no rights left; George Orwell's "1984" will be coming more and more a reality for Americans. Terrorism is considered to be a violation of criminal laws. A person committing any other crime would still be given rights, why can't they? I'm not saying that the "terrorists" should have absolute freedom, but what would happen if all of their rights were stripped from them and they were actually found to be innocent? Someone speaking their own mind about the government could easily be labeled as a "terrorist", should the government really lock them up and throw away the key for demonstrating freedom of speech? We are supposed to be the "best" country, the one that everyone wants to live in. Who would want to live in the totalitarian society that we are becoming? Simply stated, the theory that "innocent until proven guilty" should still be upheld; let us not throw away the Bill of Rights that our ancestors fought so hard for.

Published by Stephanie Alford

I've returned from my little emotional sabbatical. Much better now.  View profile

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  • Betsy Ross7/14/2008

    While I agree in part, this article doesn't seem to make the distinction between Americans rights, and those of foreigners. Read the preamble to our Constitution. Bill of Rights protections were intended for Americans only, whether natural or naturalized. This also encourages immigrants to truly become Americans by going through the naturalization process. As far as the Gitmo detainees, during our own Civil War enemy combatants were kept until the end of the war, and then were tried in military tribunals. As has been the process for every since war before. Unfortunately, this is not a "legal" war, and also unfortunately, many of those detainees have been unlawfully held because the only authorization Congress gave for this action was to "capture bin Laden and any who give him aid and comfort." The entire Iraq conflict is unconstitituional. But the Supreme Court blew it again, as it has a great deal it appears lately in it's bogus and "illegal" decisions.

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